Warren Buffett: Regarding investment in renewable energy “There’s another $15 billion ready to go, as far as I’m concerned.”

Warren Buffett briefly lost track of how many billions of dollars his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) is spending to build wind and solar power in the U.S. That didn’t stop him from vowing to double the outlay. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-10/buffett-ready-to-double-15-billion-solar-wind-bet.html

PUBLIC HEALTH ASIA: Job Opening: Department of Health & Family Welfare...

PUBLIC HEALTH ASIA: Job Opening: Department of Health & Family Welfare...

Job Opening: Department of Health & Family Welfare, Gujrat (India)

Five ways to earn income through Smart Investing

You have always relied on your salary or your primary income to meet your financial goals. Your investments over the years can help you generate a second income. So much so, that if you plan better, this could change your life.

FUN TIME: Cricket with Friends

Risk of Ebola transmission in India

Indian Nationals working in Liberia being brought back by M/s Afcons

66 passengers have landed in Mumbai and 13 in Delhi; all screened for Ebola and found healthy. 

No passenger isolated

112 Indian Nationals and four Nepalese Nationals working with M/s Afcons in Liberia are being brought back by International SOS (ISOS) Organization on the request of M/s Afcons. These persons belong to the States of Delhi (4), Maharashtra (54), West Bengal (12), Bihar (10), Uttar Pradesh (7), Tamil Nadu (5), Andhra Pradesh (4), Kerala (3), Odisha (3), Gujarat (3), Karnataka (2), Haryana (2), Punjab (2), Jharkhand (1), Madhya Pradesh (1), Uttarakhand (1), Rajasthan (1) and Himachal Pradesh (1).

Protecting the future from TB

http://dzap9xl59mli2.cloudfront.net/pm_pdf/pm_20140821-pmin-2549-084125-da48f44055fd.pdf

Economic & Political Weekly, Mumbai, Saturday 16th August 2014, Page: 8

The workshop on “ Public Health Ethics”

The workshop on “ Public Health Ethics” from 1st Dec to 5th Dec 2014 organized by Department of Community Medicine & Family Medicine at AIIMS Jodhpur, Please visit for detail information: http://aiimsjodhpur.edu.in/publichelthethics2014/index.php
 

This workshop will be instrumental in enhancing the knowledge of academicians, researchers and members of institutional review boards/ ethical committees in the arena of Public Health Ethics. 

This five day workshop will provide you best of scientific deliberations, interaction with international experts, sightseeing and much more.

Measles becomes a 'biological weapon' against cancer

Science Friday

Writer Adam Wernick

Producer Alexa Lim

The patient suffered from multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. Last June, doctors at the famous Minnesota clinic injected her bloodstream with a form of measles that was genetically re-engineered to attack myeloma cells.
The measles therapy followed a decade of unsuccessful treatments from numerous courses of chemotherapy to two stem cell transplants. But the cancer returned time and time again — until now. A year after the measles injections, she's still cancer-free.

WHO: Air travel is low-risk for Ebola transmission

GENEVA ¦14 August 2014– The World Health Organization (WHO) today reiterated its position that the risk of transmission of Ebola virus disease during air travel remains low.
 

“Unlike infections such as influenza or tuberculosis, Ebola is not airborne,” says Dr Isabelle Nuttall, Director of WHO Global Capacity Alert and Response. “It can only be transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of a person who is sick with the disease.”

PUBLIC HEALTH ASIA: Ebola outbreak: Public Health Emergency of Interna...

PUBLIC HEALTH ASIA: Ebola outbreak: Public Health Emergency of Interna...: Public Health Emergency of International Importance (PHEIC) The Director-General (DG) of the World Health Organization (WHO) convene...

Ebola outbreak: Public Health Emergency of International Importance (PHEIC)

Public Health Emergency of International Importance (PHEIC)

The Director-General (DG) of the World Health Organization (WHO) convened the first meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2005) regarding Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on 6 and 7 August 2014. Based on discussion and deliberation on the information provided, the Committee advised that: the Ebola outbreak in West Africa constitutes an ‘extraordinary event’ and a public health risk to other States; the possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries. a coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop and reverse the international spread of Ebola;

Nationwide Rubella Epidemic — Japan, 2013

Nationwide Rubella Epidemic — Japan, 2013

Weekly

June 14, 2013 / 62(23);457-462

Rubella usually is a mild, febrile rash illness in children and adults; however, infection early in pregnancy, particularly during the first 16 weeks, can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or an infant born with birth defects (i.e., congenital rubella syndrome [CRS]) (1). As of 2013, goals to eliminate rubella have been established in two World Health Organization regions (the Region of the Americas by 2010 and the European Region by 2015), and targets for accelerated rubella control and CRS prevention have been established by the Western Pacific Region (WPR) (2). In 1976, Japan introduced single-antigen rubella vaccine in its national immunization program, targeting girls in junior high school. In 1989, a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine was introduced, targeting children aged 12–72 months. However, adult males remain susceptible to rubella. From January 1 to May 1, 2013, a total of 5,442 rubella cases were reported through the rubella surveillance system in Japan, with the majority (77%) of cases occurring among adult males. Ten infants with CRS were reported during October 2012–May 1, 2013. Countries and regions establishing a goal of accelerated control or elimination of rubella should review their previous and current immunization policies and strategies to identify and vaccinate susceptible persons and to ensure high population immunity in all cohorts, both male and female.

Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Control and Elimination — Global Progress, 2000–2012

Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Control and Elimination — Global Progress, 2000–2012

Weekly

December 6, 2013 / 62(48);983-986

Rubella virus usually causes a mild fever and rash in children and adults.* However, infection during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or infants with congenital malformations, known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated guidance on the preferred strategy for introduction of rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) into national routine immunization schedules with an initial wide-age-range vaccination campaign that includes children aged 9 months–15 years (1). WHO also urged all member states to take the opportunity offered by accelerated measles control and elimination activities as a platform to introduce RCVs (1). The Global Measles and Rubella Strategic Plan (2012–2020) published by the Measles Rubella Initiative partners in 2012 and the Global Vaccine Action Plan endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2012 include milestones to eliminate rubella and CRS in two WHO regions by 2015, and eliminate rubella in five WHO regions by 2020. This report summarizes the global progress of rubella and CRS control and elimination during 2000–2012. As of December 2012, a total of 132 (68%) WHO member states had introduced RCV, a 33% increase from 99 member states in 2000. A total of 94,030 rubella cases were reported to WHO in 2012 from 174 member states, an 86% decrease from the 670,894 cases reported in 2000 from 102 member states. The WHO Region of the Americas (AMR) and European Region (EUR) have established rubella elimination goals of 2010 and 2015, respectively. AMR has started to document the elimination of measles, rubella, and CRS; in EUR, rubella incidence has decreased significantly, although outbreaks continue to occur.

Future of Community Medicine in India

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2800915/

In spite of the impressive advances made in the field of Community Medicine in India, there is considerable confusion over its role in the future. As you have rightly pointed out in your editorial by Rajesh Kumar (Academic Community Medicine in 21^st Century: Challenges and Opportunities), academic growth in this subject can take either of these two directions, namely, Family Medicine or Public Health.

Moreso, this urgency to choose a direction arises because, here in the United Kingdom from where this subject had started, does not have it now. Here Family Medicine is General Practice for which in residency training, postings in conventional clinical subjects like Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry is required. Moreover, the demand for Public Health is supplied with graduates from diverse backgrounds and not just medicine. This gives a richness of experience to those who are in this field. Even the postgraduate medical residency training programs and fellowship and membership examinations in the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) in the Royal Colleges are open to those who do not have medicine as a subject in graduation. Read More

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2800915/

RASHTRIYA AROGYA NIDHI : Financial assistance to patients, living below poverty

http://mohfw.nic.in/WriteReadData/RAN.pdf

The Scheme provides for financial assistance to patients, living below poverty line who is suffering from major life threatening diseases, to receive medical treatment at any of the super specialty Govt. hospitals / institutes or other Govt. hospitals .The financial assistance to such patients is released in the form of ‘one time grants to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital in which the treatment is being received. Read More

http://mohfw.nic.in/WriteReadData/RAN.pdf

Ebola has got No Treatment / Vaccination

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-plan-to-fly-in-ebola-patients-sparks-fears/article6272878.ece

Ebola has got No Treatment/Vaccination - Our body Immune System is the Only Hope....
It may cross borders as in this Days Air Travel can Spread a Menace in 24hrs......

46th APACPH Conference in Kuala Lumpur

http://www.apacph.org/wp/2014/07/apacph2014-abstract-deadline-31-jul-2014/

There will be 11 symposium focusing on the “Evolution of Public Health in the Asia-Pacific Region”.

• Ageing
• Infectious Disease
• Non Communicable Diseases
• Global Health
• Universal Health Coverage
• Occupational & Environmental Health
• Women’s Health, Adolescent Health & Violence
• Injury Prevention
• Peace and Health
• Health Education and Promotion
• Public Health Law & Ethics

The REWARD: Dream Comes True.

Its the matter of proud to be a part of the great team of Polio Eradication.

Global Health Security – Why does it Matter?

http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/fieldupdates/pdf/dghp-field-updates-2014-summer.pdf 

The globalization of travel and trade of foods and drugs has increased opportunities for dangerous pathogens, which can arise anywhere in the world, to spread faster than ever. This poses serious threats to the United States as well as to other countries. We face a perfect storm of infectious disease threats that know no borders. New and deadly pathogens, such as H7N9 avian influenza and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), are emerging with increased frequency and these diseases can travel across the globe in less than 24 hours. 

READ MORE:

http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/fieldupdates/pdf/dghp-field-updates-2014-summer.pdf

High Level Meeting of the Global Polio Partners Group at WHO

CHAIRS’ STATEMENT

High Level Meeting of the Global Polio Partners Group (PPG)

Monday, 16 June 2014

On 16 June 2014, a high-level meeting of the Polio Partners Group of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was convened in Geneva at the World Health Organization headquarters where stakeholders re-affirmed their commitment to follow through on the Endgame strategy for achieving polio eradication. Emphasis was placed on the need to strengthen outbreak prevention and response efforts, on actions being taken to actively keep the three endemic countries on track to stop transmission of the polio virus, and on the implementation of measures to vaccinate travellers from key infected countries under the International Health Regulations. Attention was devoted to initiatives aimed at further enhancing program oversight and governance, on the critical role of communications and social mobilization in tackling remaining obstacles to eradication, on plans to introduce the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), on the development of the global polio legacy framework, and on financial and budget matters. Participants formally endorsed the revised GPEI monitoring framework for the Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018.

During the high level meeting, PPG stakeholders:

 Expressed concern at recent backward trends, underscored the need to avoid complacency and pessimism, and reiterated the need to remain focused on effectively responding to the challenges highlighted in the recent Independent Monitoring Board report, including by collaborating to:

1) sustain the positive momentum in Nigeria and Afghanistan in 2014, including by ensuring focused attention during Nigeria’s upcoming elections period and Afghanistan’s own political transition;

2) support Pakistan in reshaping its program so it can achieve success; and

3) strengthen outbreak prevention and response, including in “Red List” countries at risk.

 Called on the GPEI Polio Oversight Board (POB) to brief PPG stakeholders at their Fall meeting on steps taken to enhance outbreak prevention and management efforts.

 Stressed the need for GPEI and GAVI Alliance partners to continue their efforts to reinforce the relationship between polio and routine immunization activities, and noted

Global Polio Partners Group

the consequences of this in relation to IPV introduction and social mobilization campaigns.

 Underscored the importance of communication and social mobilization initiatives to reach missed children and overcome family and community mistrust, and expressed appreciation for sophisticated and detailed analysis provided, while calling on GPEI to show greater alignment between immunization success and investments in social mobilization efforts.

 Expressed appreciation for the planned uptake of IPV in a large number of GAVI-eligible countries. Stakeholders recalled the need for countries to define their target introduction dates as soon as possible to ensure that sufficient quantities of inactivated polio vaccine are available when required. Stakeholders recommended that the POB pursue targeted follow-up at a high level with non-GAVI-eligible countries by writing to ask that they share their plans for IPV introduction, and they also called for donors to consider providing financial support for the introduction of IPV in these countries.

 Took note of POB plans to enhance its transparency, accountability and stakeholder engagement, and welcomed the update provided on plans for an open and objective management review of the polio program being commissioned by the POB. Stakeholders expressed interest in providing bilateral feedback to the consultants conducting the review, and in being provided interim feedback on the review’s progress during a PPG working level teleconference call possibly to be convened in late August or early September. Stakeholders outlined the importance of this review and requested that the POB present the outcomes of the management review at the Fall PPG meeting.

 Expressed appreciation for the increased transparency provided on financing and budget matters, called for all contributions supporting polio eradication to be reflected in GPEI financial reporting (in addition to financial contributions channelled through WHO and UNICEF and reported in Financial Resource Requirements), sought additional clarifications and precision regarding funding gap analysis, and recommended that GPEI assist donors in further highlighting contributions made and the use of innovative financing mechanisms, including through reaching out to the global media and social media.

 Acknowledged the progress achieved in the development of the Global Legacy Framework, expressed interest in providing input during the consultation process, and

considered the value of convening a working level workshop in Geneva in the fall. The PPG Co-Chairs committed to revert to stakeholders with possible dates.

 Endorsed the revised GPEI Monitoring Framework, expressing appreciation for the consultation process that was conducted in advance of the presentation to the PPG. The framework is seen as having the potential to enable a more comprehensive tracking of the program’s progress and results and as being more relevant for key external stakeholders, including to ensure accountability to taxpayers and other stakeholders .

The PPG asked the two Co-Chairs to send the PPG Chairs’ Statement to the GPEI Polio Oversight Board, the Polio Steering Committee, and the Independent Monitoring Board for their consideration and action, and to report on these results at the POB meeting scheduled for June 20, 2014.